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Ethelbert Nevin

[October 2021.]

Günter BIALAS: Musik für Klavier und Orchester (1990); Concerto Lirico für Klavier und Orchester (1967); Trois Moments Musicaux (1973). Siegfried Mauser (pno), Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin (RSO), Mathias Husmann (cond.). cpo 999 157-2 (1 CD) (www.cpo.de).

Bialas’ crisp serial grammar is thoroughly infused with jazz rhythms; piano and orchestra dialog enthusiastically. Obscure but catchy. YES.

Nino ROTA: Trio for flute, violin and piano (1958)¹; Valzer sul nome BACH (1975)²; Piccola offerta musicale (1943)³; Nonetto (1957; rev. 1974, 1977)⁴; Trio for cello, clarinet and piano (1973)⁵; Preludes Nos. 2 and 13 from Fifteen Preludes (1964)⁶. Emmanuel Pahud^1,3,4 (fl), Paul Meyer^3,4,5(clar), François Meyer^3,4 (ob), Gilbert Audin^3,4 (bsn), Benoît de Barsony^3,4 (hrn), Daishin Kashimoto^1,4 (vln), Joaquín Riquelme García⁴ (vla), Claudio Bohórquez⁴, Aurélien Pascal⁵ (vlc), Olivier Thiery⁴ (cbs), Éric Le Sage^1,2,5,6 (pno). Alpha 746 (1 CD) (www.outhere-music.com).

Elegant Rota evokes sparkly trinkets partially remembered. In actuality, significant debts are owed to Brahms, Poulenc and Shostakovich. NO.

“On the Keyboard: Piano Works of Joji Yuasa.” Two Pastorales (1952); Three Score Set (1953); Serenade: Chant pour “Do” (1954); Cosmos Haptic (1957); Projection Topologic (1959); On the Keyboard (1972); Cosmos Haptic II “Transfiguration” (1986); Subliminal Hey J. (1990); Melodies (1997). Ronald Squibbs (pno). Aucourant Records AUREC-0501-1 (1 CD) (www.aucourantrecords.com).

Yuasa meanders across Satie, Debussy and the Beatles, but it seems that he strongly prefers Messiaen. The latest works interest most. MAYBE.

“Vivaldi: L’Âge D’Or.” Antonio VIVALDI, Barbara STROZZI, Francesco TURINI, Tomaso ALBINONI, Marc’Antonio ZIANI, Domenico GALLO, Claudio MONTEVERDI: Var comps. Marianne Piketty (vln), Le Concert Idéal, Marianne Piketty (cond.). Evidence EVCD076 (1 CD) (www.evidenceclassics.com).

A decidedly modern exploration of Vivaldi and other Venetians, sometimes astringent or violent, over a continuo anchored with theorbo. YES.

“Exiles.” Max RICHTER: Var. comps. Baltic Sea Philharmonic, Kristjan Järvi (cond.). Deutsche Grammophon DG 4860445 (1 CD, 2 LP) (www.deutschegrammophon.com).

Pleasant pastel colors applied to porous surfaces with Pachelbel, Glass and Pärt’s most favorite chord progressions. Nice but not for me. NO.

“Ottava alta.” Bruno BJELINSKI: Sonata No. 1 for Violin and Piano, “Farewell Sonata” (1933; rev. 1976)¹. Stjepan ŠULEK: Sonata for Violin and Piano (1972)². Ivo MALEC: Concert for violin and orchestra, “Ottava alta” (1995)³. Goran Končar^1,2,3 (vln), Bruno Vlahek^1,2 (pno), Croatian Radio Television Symphonic Orchestra³, Nikša Bareza³ (cond.). Vox Primus 2019004-1 (1 CD) (www.voxprimus.org).